AMB wrote:Anyone know why the DH51 hasn't been flown for years? Every time I go, it's always hangar bound and never outside even.

You've asked this question several times before and had answers.

It flew at the Edwardian Pageant in August 2017, and with regards to why it's not seen so often, the answer given was that limited engineering resources mean some aircraft are given greater priority than others. Just search this section of the forum for "DH51".

OK I'll start positive - the two Spitfire PRXIs were excellent, John Romain in particular really knows how to show an aircraft off to its best, and his close photo passes were beautifully done. It would have been a more fitting way to close the show in my opinion, but they probably wanted to land back on and enjoy.

With no internet on Saturday I had gone hoping to see the Anson, only to find that had been pulled, but also no shows from the Mew Gull, Demon, Dove - the home team seemed to be struggling at their home show. With no Lysander, Hind, Tomtit either and the SE5 going sick, it ended up a bit lightweight compared to usual heritage days.

The Hurricanes - OK I appreciate the Sea Hurricane doing low level passes while the MkI performs some aeros, but then doesn't come back down anywhere near us for a good look, just into the circuit and land. Similarly with the Sopwiths, the Triplane performed some great passes, but once the Camel was up, they just tried and failed miserably to get in formation going round in race day like circuits and then landed, no close passes from the Camel. As for the Global Stars, I can see why they got their name as they took almost the whole Earth to reposition, much better when two had landed.

After the WWII fighters landed, it really just seemed to drift yesterday with no impetus, although the Russian engined Pitts made a great noise.

And then the commentary, not the best, miles behind telling people what was going on, the BBMF Dak was halfway down the line before they even mentioned its arrival, no idea who was in which Spitfire when John Romain landed and Peter Teichmann was running in to display, they had John heading back to Duxford at that point. And as for the "We'll stop talking now, we'll let you listen to the Merlins, we'll shut up now, etc etc" - Just stop. It was like having Dom n Dick on the mics.

Maybe I'm just becoming a miserable old git. Anyway I enjoyed the day out in lovely clear blue skies, but I've been to far more memorable Shuttleworth shows.

I had a great day, but the displays were a mixed bag of long/short, close/distant... I was pretty underwhelmed by the Mk.V Spitfire and the Hurricanes on this occasion. John Romain demonstrated again that he is master of the art of displaying a Spitfire. His recent displays in N3200 and now PL983 are a cut above the rest.

It was great to see the two PR.XIs, but I was hoping for more formation passes, especially as it was such a rare formation and will probably never be repeated. However, why when doing a formation pass is the aircraft closest to the crowd at the rear of the formation, making it difficult to get both aircraft in shot until after they've passed? This happened with some of the other displays as well, which was a little disappointing to say the least!

Also really enjoyed the Hawk Speed Six display as I'd been wanting to see this since it was purchased by the Collection, and it made some nice topside passes. It was also great to see a Stieglitz again after so many years, in fact it's been ten years since I saw Peter Holloway's old example, so it was good to see one again. The Pitts also deserves a special mention, if only for the whine that the radial engine makes!

It was a shame that so many aircraft were unserviceable, and this was particularly unfortunate for their 'home' show. Does anyone know why only the Triplane and Boxkite flew in the Edwardian section, as the conditions seemed perfect for the Blackburn and Deperdussin - missed opportunity perhaps?

As Caper mentioned, there were a few glaring inaccuracies in the commentary, not sure I've heard of a Focke Wulf Condor referred to as an Fw.88 before! Also when you say you're going to be quiet so we can hear the Merlins, don't then carry on for another 4 or 5 sentences afterwards!

On the whole I think the weather and the PR.XIs made it a good show, but it certainly wasn't a classic Shuttleworth.

A fair assessment Paul. Some of the displays yesterday were very short indeed - Comet, Camel and M1C spring to mind immediately.

I think "muddled" would probably sum up yesterday's show. Some things came nice and close, some things were distant, some were very long and others little more than two or three passes.

I wonder if there's too much focus on formations maybe? Personally I'd much rather have three 10 minute solos from the Spitfires and Hurricanes. AR501 remains their star item but, aside from the May evening 'debut', I've not seen it shown off very well since. As you rightly said, the Camel getting airborne rather took the wind out of the sails of the Triplane, which up until then was a superb display.

Just go back to basics. One aircraft at a time, with an emphasis on being low, close and using the bend.

Glad that they didn't open up the flying with one of the star items though. Save the good stuff for the better light.

Commentators very much had a feel of local radio DJs. Some odd remarks besides the points you made too, like praising a Shuttleworth crowd for not littering...?

An enjoyable day out, but not the best Shuttleworth show I've been to.

Not a show I managed to get too this time, out of interest who did the commentary this time? Tim Callaway hasn't been the commentator for a couple of the shows this year, shame as really rather grown to this commentary style at Shuttleworth.

I agree some things were a strange yesterday but I enjoyed the martlett, speed 6 and the overall flying. Just some things like the gladiator flying straight and level and the very disjointed hurricane display let it down slightly but I came home happy. Glad I’m not the only one who felt this way though

Tim was commentating at Cosby yesterday. If you want unlimited top sides perfectly lit with uncluttered ground shots, that’s the place to go. That said it’s not an Airshow so the display is short but very good quality. Lots of other stuff going on as well.